What Angels Fear by CS Harris

Title: What Angels FearAuthor: CS HarrisSeries: Sebastian St. Cyr #1Genre: Historical mysteryReason for Reading: I've been in a mystery mood, and seeing one of the newer installments in this series made me decide to give it a try.Pages: 341Copyright Date: 2005Cover: Generic - a photoshopped combination of red rose petals, an iron fence, and the statue of an angel.First line: "She blamed the fog. She wasn't normally this nervous. This afraid."Best part: The author doesn't do all the work for you. She lays out the possibilities, but not even the protagonist understands everything that's happening around him.Worst part: The details of the rape and murder that happen in the book's first few pages are dwelt on lovingly and repeatedly. Imaginary Theme Song: "Fugitive" by Iron MaidenGrade: CRecommended for: Enthusiasts for early Regency pieces.Related Reads:Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross, The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.

Sebastien St. Cyr has no cause for concern when the constables come to take him in for questioning. He scarcely knew the young woman who has been murdered. But at the scene of his arrest, things go very very wrong. Now he is on the run, struggling to find out the truth of who killed Rachel York and why.

Harris seems to have modeled her protagonist on her husband to some extent, given that they are both retired intelligence officers. And that's great. But really, how many times can one man escape from the cops? Even untrained cops with no cars? Come on. After the first few times you go out the window, most people would put someone UNDER the window. Also, many of her peripheral characters seem a bit typecast - the urchin turned loyal servant, the hard-hearted courtesan, the cold, calculating nobleman. I'm not sure whether I'll continue with this series.